Craftsman sockets not holding up well..

[Tom2]

This is a 11/16 and 18mm. 2 sizes I use fairly often, but not every day. I exchanged them a year or so ago, so they're not very old.

The 11/16 is to the point where you can't read the lase etching at all. Chrome is flaking bad on both, and they're scratched badly. Is this common?

I think it's gonna be time for a different brand soon. I really likely Craftsman because of the easy exchange and fair prices..but I don't know if I should even bother with them for sockets anymore.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm giving this thead 5 stars; this is excellent.

 

[Interex]

Looks like those are taking quite a beating for just a year old. Are you using them on an impact?

 

[iandh]

Yeah, those look live they've gone above and beyond the call of duty...

 

[mrholeshot]

I can tell you from experiance that these are not being treated in a noraml manner. I'm not a huge fan of Craftsman sockets but I can tell these have been on an Impact and used in something like installing tuner lug nuts. Those sockets have taken a real beating. I use Craftsman sockets for tuner wheels because they are thin and will go down in the wheel. Just take them back

Lets see the drive end of those sockets

 

[Tom2]

I've never used them on an impact. Wouldn't be afraid to admit if I had, but I honestly never have.

Any yes, I do use my tools. They don't just sit in a $10,000 box and look pretty, I use my tools pretty often. But not professionally. And I don't use the 18mm or 11/16 more than twice a week. Especially the 18mm with heavy flaking. I really don't use it often at all..Spark plugs on my motorcycle is about it.

My 9/16 and 1/2 looked the same. Although I recently exchanged them over the past few months so they're not quite as bad yet.

The sockets are not cracked and still fit fasteners snugly, the chrome is just terrible.

I imagine an impact would have cracked them on the first few uses..

 

[iandh]

I've never used them on an impact. Wouldn't be afraid to admit if I had, but I honestly never have.

Any yes, I do use my tools. They don't just sit in a $10,000 box and look pretty, I use my tools pretty often. But not professionally. And I don't use the 18mm or 11/16 more than twice a week. Especially the 18mm with heavy flaking. I really don't use it often at all..Spark plugs on my motorcycle is about it.

My 9/16 and 1/2 looked the same. Although I recently exchanged them over the past few months so they're not quite as bad yet.

There's something in your environment doing this then... this type of plating failure does not happen this fast without a catalyst.

These look like they were ridden hard, and put up wet, literally.

 

[Boiler]

Do you store them in your vehicle, loose with other tools or something?

 

[Merkava_4]

Man.... you guys are thinking up all kinds of excuses.

 

[iandh]

Man.... you guys are thinking up all kinds of excuses.

What do you mean excuse? These are the most screwed up sockets I've seen of any brand, ever, and I've seen a lot of screwed up sockets.

Not to mention which, I'll absolutely agree that brand new Craftsman sockets aren't the prettiest things, but how many people on this board own and use them daily, and haven't seen this kind of failure? Evidently everyone but the OP....

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Those aren't like that because of occasional weekend use. Where do you store them?

 

[Merkava_4]

What do you mean excuse? These are the most screwed up sockets I've seen of any brand, ever, and I've seen a lot of screwed up sockets.

Wrong environment? Yeah.... they must've been dropped on the salt flats while tuning up a car for the latest land speed record.

 

[Dennis The Menace]

Only a year? Mine looked like that after three months! Yes, I was a mechanic at the time doing simple stuff like tires, oil, battery, lube, tune-up, etc. But, that's no excuse for crappy tools. My dad's old set of Japanese (no brand name on them) sockets held up the rest of the year. Still got them, but want to trade up to Wera sockets.

 

[boybacon]

Gee, Merkava stating that Craftsman is junk. I'm surprised he hasn't "recommended" that you switch to Toptul. He must get a commision or something.

What is causing the scratches at the base of the socket, out of curiosity? The corrsion at the tops of the sockets looks pretty old, too. Looks like the socket on the left has had corrosion, then had it worn away, as there is still some at the line where the plating is flaking. Can we get a picture of the ends of the sockets, too? I'd like to see the insides as well. I've had some cheap chinese made sockets that corroded like crazy, but the chrome never flaked.

 

[iandh]

I have a set at my old work that's been used daily for over a year and still looks new... does that mean the sockets ****, or does it mean you're beating them up?

 

[Tom2]

Wow..I really didn't think I'd get so many people arguing with me for posting this. This is ridiculous.

I have tons of other Craftsman sockets. My old ones look fine, even other cheaper import brands I have look fine - and I use them just as, if not more frequently. None of them look like this.

Most of my sockets do just lay loose in my tool box. Doesn't see water. Only the newer C-mans I've exchanged have this problem. I have many older ones treated identically that look fine.

The problem with exchanging these with new ones is that in a few months, they'll look just like this anyways.

And please, with this thread, I do not want to be accused of being a tool snob. I am very cheap and I have always loved buying C-man, and sometimes HF. The truck brand stuff is not even an option for me.

In fact, the chrome peeling doens't even bother me that much, because they still get the job done. Again, I use my tools. I don't just collect them because they're pretty. Just not being able to read the sizes can get frustrating.

Until there is another cheap, mid-grade brand of tools that can be exchanged easily - I'll probably still stick with C-man for the most part - unless I found a great garage sale deal on some better, older US made hand tools.

 

[Merkava_4]

Hey Tom2,

You gotta water softener at home? Stop storing your Craftsman sockets in the salt tank.

 

[iandh]

What this looks like is the OP lives in a humid environment and drops his sockets on the ground as he's working. Since he's working on a bike they probably get used in tight spots which is why all of the circumferential scratching.

Any time you compromise the chrome plating whether it be by dropping it on concrete, or scratching it, and then place the chrome part in a humin environment, it's going to fail. Period.

It doesn't matter whether it's a cheap craftsman, or a precious snap-on.

Wow..I really didn't think I'd get so many people arguing with me for posting this. This is ridiculous.

I have tons of other Craftsman sockets. My old ones look fine, even other cheaper import brands I have look fine - and I use them just as, if not more frequently. None of them look like this.

Most of my sockets do just lay loose in my tool box. Doesn't see water. Only the newer C-mans I've exchanged have this problem. I have many older ones treated identically that look fine.

The problem with exchanging these with new ones is that in a few months, they'll look just like this anyways.

And please, with this thread, I do not want to be accused of being a tool snob. I am very cheap and I have always loved buying C-man, and sometimes HF. The truck brand stuff is not even an option for me.

In fact, the chrome peeling doens't even bother me that much, because they still get the job done. Again, I use my tools. I don't just collect them because they're pretty. Just not being able to read the sizes can get frustrating.

Until there is another cheap, mid-grade brand of tools that can be exchanged easily - I'll probably still stick with C-man for the most part - unless I found a great garage sale deal on some better, older US made hand tools.

Nobody is accusing you of being a liar, but having used newer craftsman sockets daily, there IS NO WAY they get like this from standard use. Read above... either you set your tools down hard on the concrete while working, or outright drop them.

As I said before, they may not be the nicest things ever, but I've NEVER seen this happen to one.

 

[Merkava_4]

What this looks like is the OP lives in a humid environment and drops his sockets on the ground as he's working.

That's it!! Tom2 must be a water softener service technician.

 

[Tom2]

I have a set at my old work that's been used daily for over a year and still looks new... does that mean the sockets ****, or does it mean you're beating them up?

Please..If you want to argue, go elsewhere. I was not looking for a fight with this thread.

Maybe I do use my tools "rougher" than most people, because they actually get used. Maybe the 5 or 6 C-man newer sockets I got were just a bad batch? I have no idea.

The ends of the sockets and insides look fine aside from flakyness.

Most of my Craftsman sockets are from the late 90s/early 00s. And they still look fine, other than wear and tear you would expect from 10 year old sockets.

 

[c39er]

I use my regular craftsman sockets at times with an impact and know it's dangerous and all and have yet to make any of them look that awful. Sockets that sit in a wet tool tray being used in a bone yard end up looking like that and they are cheap chinese sockets.
Lets see the craftsman name on them there sockets!

 

[Tom2]

What this looks like is the OP lives in a humid environment and drops his sockets on the ground as he's working. Since he's working on a bike they probably get used in tight spots which is why all of the circumferential scratching.

Any time you compromise the chrome plating whether it be by dropping it on concrete, or scratching it, and then place the chrome part in a humin environment, it's going to fail. Period.

It doesn't matter whether it's a cheap craftsman, or a precious snap-on.



Nobody is accusing you of being a liar, but having used newer craftsman sockets daily, there IS NO WAY they get like this from standard use. Read above... either you set your tools down hard on the concrete while working, or outright drop them.

As I said before, they may not be the nicest things ever, but I've NEVER seen this happen to one.

Like anything automotive, I usually work on a concrete floor, asphalt, or gravel. I lay my tools on the ground constantly while working.

Again, I don't exactly treat my tools like jewelry, but none of my other sockets look like this, and they're much older with more use. So, I really think it's fair to say at a minimum, whatever chrome process C-man used to make these sockets failed. Maybe I just got a bad batch and they corrected it? Who knows..I hope so.

 

[iandh]

That's it!! Tom2 must be a water softener service technician.

Look, humidity kills plating, period. It's why people back east can have a hole rusting through a bumper that's never had anything touch it but a soft rag.

You'll notice, when a chrome bumper gets a ding, all of a sudded a month later there's a big rust spot where the ding was... this isn't some mystical thing that happens only to craftsman sockets. It happens to ANY chrome plated object in a humid environment.


I live in the desert, and things never rust here. All the same, we use evaporative cooling and sometimes indoors the humidity get high enough to cause rust... even in an evaporatively cooled shop, during humid summer days, I've never seen a craftsman socket do this.

That means, OP's sockets exist in a humid environment. I hate to break it to you Merkava, but things don't rust without moisture present.

All it takes is a single compromise in the chrome plating for rust to start, and it will start working its way all around, and then we end up with the OP's sockets.

Like anything automotive, I usually work on a concrete floor, asphalt, or gravel. I lay my tools on the ground constantly while working.

Again, I don't exactly treat my tools like jewelry, but none of my other sockets look like this, and they're much older with more use. So, I really think it's fair to say at a minimum, whatever chrome process C-man used to make these sockets failed. Maybe I just got a bad batch and they corrected it? Who knows..I hope so.

I'm not saying you're abusing your tools or anything. Every home mechanic I've ever known besides those that have the $$$ for linoleum tile, set their tools on the concrete.

All I'm saying is that impact with the concrete, combined with the humidity where you live, is probably the culprit... I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if Craftsman did a better plating job either. Their sockets aren't exactly known for their plating quality.

 

[Merkava_4]

Gee, Merkava stating that Craftsman is junk. I'm surprised he hasn't "recommended" that you switch to Toptul. He must get a commision or something.

I never said Craftsman is junk (in this thread).

The reason I mention Toptul is because they make a better socket than Craftsman does and I think Mike is more deserving of sales than Sears is. And no, I don't get a commission.

 

[iandh]

I never said Craftsman is junk (in this thread).

The reason I mention Toptul is because they make a better socket than Craftsman and I think Mike is more deserving of sales than Sears is. And no, I don't get a commission.

Well, if you can get ahold of him that is.

 

[Tom2]

All I'm saying is that impact with the concrete, combined with the humidity where you live, is probably the culprit... I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if Craftsman did a better plating job either. Their sockets aren't exactly known for their plating quality.

I am in the Northeast, and yes - the humidity here is bad. So I don't know, I imagine that could be a contributing factor. But, it wouldn't explain why the rest of my older sockets look fine.

Well, regardless of the cause/causes, I think it might be time that I look for a higher quality brand of tools. Just tough because prices jump so much beyong C-man..

 

[boybacon]

OP - I analyze broken products for a living to determine how they failed and why. I always ask questions about what I see, so I'm not accusing you of lying or anything. I just want to learn more about what's going on with these sockets. I personally do not like lasermarked sockets. I'd much rather have a dual marked socket or a roll marked socket, as the laser "etching" does wear off.

I have a set of Japanese made sockets that my dad bought me 20 some years ago, and they look like brand new today, no matter how much abuse I give them (dropping, leaving out in the rain, etc.). I have a set of Chinese made sockets that I never used, but stored properly....and they corroded like crazy where the plating was just sloughing off like it was shedding. My craftsman stuff has been pretty good to me, as long as I care for it. I've got some JH Williams factory made tools (back when they were made in the USA under a different brand) that rust fairly easily, even though they are nickel (I think) plated.

My point is that you can find good tools, bad tools, and tools that need TLC from EVERY brand. The worst rusters in my toolbox right now are a set of 4 Snap On pliers. They are literally dripping with oil right now in an attempt to keep them from rusting.

 

[mrholeshot]

I have yet to see a Craftsman stamp. If I was going to bash the socket I would show the brand first up. I'd still love to see the drive end. My shop was less than a mile off the ocean so the humidity and salt in the air is horrible. I've never seen a Tiwan socket look like that over a years time. My tools just don't sit in a 10,000 dollar box (it actually cost more) they get beat on. Even as a shop owner I spend my days in the shop (and many nights) working on cars. I had someone else doing the pencil pushing and phone work.

 

[iandh]

I am in the Northeast, and yes - the humidity here is bad. So I don't know, I imagine that could be a contributing factor. But, it wouldn't explain why the rest of my older sockets look fine.

Well, regardless of the cause/causes, I think it might be time that I look for a higher quality brand of tools. Just tough because prices jump so much beyong C-man..

Are these your most used sizes?

I had a Craftsman pro wrench set at my old work that I used for 10 years. Only one wrench had chrome failure, the 7/16" and that was because damn near everything we worked on was nothing but 1/4" bolts.


Either way, if your environment is harsh enough to kill sockets like this, it probably is a good idea to step up.

I would actually recommend toptul, but not for the reason Merkava is suggesting. Satin chrome finishes typically have better molecular adhesioin and are more impact resistant. On top of that, the beadblasting they do to prep the surface removes any traces of surface oxide before plating.

I suspect that is one of the problems with craftsman sockets... they're obviously trying to keep costs down, and I don't think they prepare the surface enough after forging. That said, the finish seems to be durable enough for most folks.

 

[Merkava_4]

I am in the Northeast, and yes - the humidity here is bad. So I don't know, I imagine that could be a contributing factor. But, it wouldn't explain why the rest of my older sockets look fine.

Well, regardless of the cause/causes, I think it might be time that I look for a higher quality brand of tools. Just tough because prices jump so much beyong C-man..

Tom2,

You just need to keep your Craftsman sockets in a cool dry place. May I suggest the hall linen closet in your house where you store your sheets and towels? Oh, and don't bump the sockets on anything during use, or you'll cause a piece of chrome to flake off allowing humidity to seep in.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I'd like to see pics of the logo on these very sockets as well as both ends...

 

[mrholeshot]

Tom2,

You just need to keep your Craftsman sockets in a cool dry place. May I suggest the hall linen closet in your house where you store your sheets and towels? Oh, and don't bump the sockets on anything during use, or you'll cause a piece of chrome to flake off allowing humidity to seep in.

 

[Tom2]

I have yet to see a Craftsman stamp. If I was going to bash the socket I would show the brand first up. I'd still love to see the drive end. My shop was less than a mile off the ocean so the humidity and salt in the air is horrible. I've never seen a Tiwan socket look like that over a years time. My tools just don't sit in a 10,000 dollar box (it actually cost more) they get beat on. Even as a shop owner I spend my days in the shop (and many nights) working on cars. I had someone else doing the pencil pushing and phone work.

This is ridiculous. Why in the world would I lie about the brand of sockets? What would be my motivation to lie about any of this for that matter!

I use the 11/16 fairly commonly..but the 18mm which looks almost worse, I rarely use the more I think about it. Really, metric spark plugs are the only thing that jumps to mind I would have used it on in the past year. So I wouldn't say it got used more than once/twice a month.


For instance, I have a 10mm C-man that I've had for 10 years (from the original set). I've used it much, much more than these other 2 sockets, and as far as I can recall it still looks fine. I've never exchanged it. Could say the same for my 3/8, 7/16, 5/8, etc.. 12, 13, 1/2, 9/16 I've all exchanged over the past few years, and they look pretty crappy. Obviously they are the most often used sizes, so it's not as big of a surpise with them. Just the 11/16 and especially 18mm..Today it just hit me when I was out in the garage like "WTF is wrong with these sockets?" and thought it warranted a question. But honestly if I knew it would have stirred up this much, I wouldn't have started this thread.

I actually have a cheap set of "Workforce" brand tools from Home Depot I believe. Got them around 5 years ago as a gift. As far as I can recall I've never broke a socket from that set, and none of them have chrome failure. The ratchet did break a year or so later, lasted about as long as a C-man ratchet lasts me, if not slightly longer.

 

[iandh]

This is ridiculous. Why in the world would I lie about the brand of sockets? What would be my motivation to lie about any of this for that matter!

I use the 11/16 fairly commonly..but the 18mm which looks almost worse, I rarely use the more I think about it. Really, metric spark plugs are the only thing that jumps to mind I would have used it on in the past year. So I wouldn't say it got used more than once/twice a month.


For instance, I have a 10mm C-man that I've had for 10 years (from the original set). I've used it much, much more than these other 2 sockets, and as far as I can recall it still looks fine. I've never exchanged it. Could say the same for my 3/8, 7/16, 5/8, etc.. 12, 13, 1/2, 9/16 I've all exchanged over the past few years, and they look pretty crappy. Obviously they are the most often used sizes, so it's not as big of a surpise with them. Just the 11/16 and especially 18mm..Today it just hit me when I was out in the garage like "WTF is wrong with these sockets?" and thought it warranted a question. But honestly if I knew it would have stirred up this much, I wouldn't have started this thread.

Frankly, just about any thread can stir up something on this forum, I wouldn't worry about it.


I'm just more interested about why this happened. I do know that from what I've seen and heard, this is the exception and not the norm.

I've never thought Craftsman sockets are pretty, but they seem to be tough and a good value. There are quite a few folks using Snap-on ratchets and Craftsman sockets, and most of them seem quite happy.

 

[boybacon]

If these are lasermarked only sockets (EZ read, I think is what they call it) , then the laser marked part has worn away and you will never be able to see the brand (or size).

Looking through the history, it sounds like a bad batch of sockets went through (noting that it's limited in 2 sizes). Without seeing more of the sockets, I couldn't tell you at what point the process went "bad". Could've been the heat treat, or the plating process, or the original alloy used. Really hard to say. Since Danaher makes these along side Armstrong and Matco tools in the Ohio plant, I wonder if there are any of those sockets displaying the same durability issue?

 

[mrholeshot]

This is ridiculous. Why in the world would I lie about the brand of sockets? What would be my motivation to lie about any of this for that matter!

.

Sorry I wasn't calling you a liar. Don't know you so I can't make the call. I would just like to see the stamp. Just "seems" suspicious that I can't see Anything Craftsman on either socket. In my eye it isn't Craftsman until I see the name. I'd also like to see the drive end of the socket. As far as motivation goes I'm no mind reader (4 wives can testify to that) so don't take it personal. Some people will bash stuff just for the fun of it. Some post in this thread prove my point.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

But, it wouldn't explain why the rest of my older sockets look fine.

Its no secret that older Craftsman tools are better made than the new ones.

FWIW, I have a complete set and a half of G2 or older sockets that look new and have never failed. I also have a few of the newer laser etched sockets in my trail box that get tossed in the sand, go to the beach and get generally abused when I get pissed at my truck. They still look good and are holding up as well. I would say you got some bad sockets.

The reason threads like this get out of control is because people like Merkava use this as an excuse to claim Craftsman is junk and you should buy what he buys. You don't see me starting threads every day to show how great all of my tools are, so of course this makes Craftsman look bad. And Merkava apparently lives for this.

I think iandh actually had a thread about CMan sockets awhile ago that I got pretty heated about. One persons, or even two or three, bad experience doesn't make the brand junk. Maybe they need to start paying a little more for quality control, but that also means us paying more for their tools. I think I'll just live with exchanging them.

 

[Tom2]

Sorry I wasn't calling you a liar. Don't know you so I can't make the call. I would just like to see the stamp. Just "seems" suspicious that I can't see Anything Craftsman on either socket. In my eye it isn't Craftsman until I see the name. I'd also like to see the drive end of the socket. As far as motivation goes I'm no mind reader (4 wives can testify to that) so don't take it personal. Some people will bash stuff just for the fun of it. Some post in this thread prove my point.

You can kind of see the 18mm laser stamp on the right socket, facing the left socket.

I think the 11/16 is seriously so faded you can't see it at all. Hopefully they' don't give me a hassle exchanging it. And yes, I am 100% positive it is C-man. I have no other deep sockets this size.

Maybe I should just go ahead and exchange these this weekend and see how the new ones hold up. That would pretty well show for certain if it was a one time issue with their chrome process, or if that's just the new standard of quality.

Again, I'd like to keep buying C-man because I love the exchange, and the quality has been just fine aside from these newer sockets, and ratchets (but I usually still get about a year out of them before they act up).

I was considering buying a new, larger set that would be more complete to replace my old stuff. But I'm definitely thinking twice about it now.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I'd like to see pics of the logo on these very sockets as well as both ends...

Indeed, SO much speculation when some pictures could rule out alot.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

You can kind of see the 18mm lase stamp on the right socket, facing the left socket.

I think the 11/16 is seriously so faded you can't see it at all. Hopefully they' don't give me a hassle exchanging it.

Maybe I should just go ahead and exchange these this weekend and see how the new ones hold up. That would pretty well show for certain if it was a one time issue with their chrome process, or if that's just the new standard of quality.

I was just going to ask. You said these were sockets from an exchange. This is the first time you've had this issue? I don't like the laser etched sockets because they fade, so I usually try to find the older stamped ones, or at minimum etched/stamped so when it fades I can still tell what socket it is.